Game apparatus-bull fight



Nov. 12, 1935. l NL J. DIAZ 2,020,401

GAME APBARATUs-BULL FIGHT Filed July 5, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 12, 1935. M, J, DIAZ 2,020,401l

GAME APPARATUS-BUL`L FIGHT Filed July 3, 1934 2l Sheets-Sheet 2 ,gn-ae Patented Nov. l2, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT GFCE 3 Claims.

This invention relates'to a novel `and Vimproved game apparatus-a bull iight-and consists of the matters hereinafter described and more pa-rticularly pointed out in the appended. claims.

Bull fighting is a national sport in many countries, where it is largely attended and is as popular as baseball, horse racing, and like sports in this country. The sport, however, has little or no appeal to many who might otherwise admire it, because of its reputed gory aspect.

The object of the present invention is to provide a gaine vapparatus by means of which a bull ght with fa real bull and horses and the attendant picadors, banderilleros and matadors may be staged or played with all the spectacular action and effect of the real thingwith charging bull, galloping horses and dodging banderilleros, with little or no danger to the actors or players off the game and with absolutely no bloodshed of man,

horse or bull.

The advantages oi? the invention will appear more clearly as I proceed with my speciiication.

In the drawings:-

` Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a bull with a mounted picador with a lance or pike attacking the bull, said lance or pike being connected with an electrical apparatus worn by the picador;

, Figure 2 is a perspective View oi a belt to be worn by the picador and carrying the electrical apparatus aforesaid;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatical view of the electrical apparatus used in the game;

`Figure 4 is a front elevation of one leg of the horse, showing the arrangement for grounding one terminal of the electrical apparatus;

Figure '5 is a sectional View of the shoe worn by thehorse and providing a terminal for grounding the current;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a metal band to be engaged about the body of the bull;

Figure 'lis a perspective view of the head of the bull, showing detachable horns connected thereto;

Figure 8 is a perspective View on an enlarged scale, illustrating the lance or pike and its electrical connections; and

Figure 9 is a side elevation partly in section, showing a form of banderilla or dart to be used in the game. Y

Referring no-w to the drawings and to that embodiment of the invention illustrated therein:-

IB indicates the bull; i I indicates a horse; and

snugly fixed in place on the bull. As shown, the `5- adjustability is provided by means, as in Figure 6, where Vthe band consists of a strap having its ends turned at right angles to provide anges I5, I5, which are connected together by a' combination spring and turnbuckle construction i6, in- 10v cluding thumb nuts I1 for adjusting the tension of the spring.

The rod I3 is made of any suitable material, is tubular and has at its end a metal ferrule I8. An insulated conducting wire I9 extends through 15 the tubular rod I3 and is connected at one end to the ferrule I8. The other end of the conducting wire I9 extends beyond the rod I3, where it has connected to it a socket 20 for engagement Y with apli-1g member 2| connected to a conductor 2O wire I'Sa.

22 indicates a belt of any suitable construction to be worn by the horseman who is totake the part of the picador. Said belt is provided with suitable pockets 23 to receive batteries 24 of the 25 kind use in ordinary iiashlights. 25 indicates an induction coil for insertion in the battery circuit and attached to a b-ase 25a which is secured to the `belt 22. A switch 26 is interposed in the battery circuit. The conductor I9a is led through 30 or alongside the sleeve of one arm of the picador and then down within his coat or shirt to one side of the induction coil, as shown in Figure 1. 2l, 21 indicate terminals to be connected by conductors 21a, 21a to ground. The circuits of these 35 conductors are grounded through the hoofs of the horse and, since the horse when in action will have only one of either front or rear pairs of hoofs on the ground, one conductor is lassociated with each of two pairs of hoofs, as for example, 40 the two front hoofs.

' As terminals for the ground wires, steel soled rubber boots or shoes 28 are provided for each of the two front hoofs of the horse. 29 indicates the outer steel sole of the boot. A ground wire 45 21a is led down inside the upper of the boot 28 and down through the inner sole 28a of said boot, where it is bent along and into contact with the top face of the metal sole 29 to which it is electrically connected, as indicated at 29a. The steel 50 sole 29 is connected in any convenient manner to the inner sole 28a, as by rivets 28h.

The electrical connections are indicated diagrammatically in Figure 3, with like letters of reference. 55

In order that there may be no danger of goring by the horns of the bull, the bull used in the game is dehorned and his horns are replaced by rubber or leather forms 30, 30, made to simulate horns slit at their b-ase to be adjustable in diameter, with lacings or other means 3| for securing them to the stubs left after dehorning the bull. When the bull, provided with such horns, attacks a horse or man, the horns will yield and the danger of injury from the charging bull is reduced to a minimum and goring absolutely prevented.

To still further simulate the actual bull iight, darts or banderillas 32 are provided. These consist of short shafts, as indicated in Figure 9, feathered at one end as shown at 33 and having vacuum cups 34 fixed to the other end in any convenient manner. When thrust or discharged at the bull, the cup will act to affix the dart to the hide of the bull, from Which it Will project in simulation of the actual dart or banderilla used in a regular bull ght.

In playing the game, after the release of the bull into the ring, the horseman or picador, having equipped himself With the belt 22 and with the lance or pike I3 properly connected to the electrical circuit as hereinbefore described, mounts the horse II equipped with the steel soled, insulated boots 23 and connects the conductor Wires 27a to the terminals 21, as hereinbefore described. The picador then rides at the bull (which has been preferably equipped before being led into the ring with the band I4) and engages the ferrule I8 of the lance or pike I3 against said metal band I4. Induced current of high voltage is immediately grounded through the band I4 and the hoofs of the bull, with a resulting distinct shock to the bull. As the current is low, however, the shock is Without injury to the bull. This enrages the bull and arouses him to greater activity in the game. 'Ihis may be repeated by one or more picadors in simulation of a regular bull fight, while in the meantime the banderilleros add to the spectacle of the game by throwing the darts which engage and stick to the hide of the bull.

Suitable stockings or wrappings 35, 35 are provided for extending the conductors 21a, 21a down alongside the legs of the horse, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, to properly hold them Without interfering with the action of the legs of the horse. Said conductors in their path from the upper leg of the horse to the belt will be concealed by the legs of the rider Wearing the usual chaps, as picture-d in Figure 1. The rider will also be equipped with a suitable gauntlet 36, Within which will be concealed the plug and socket 2|, 20 by which connection may be made or broken between the conductor on his body and the conductor in the lance or pike.

'I'he advantages of and the manner` in which the game may be extended to simulate the regular bull fight, Will be obvious to those familiar with that art.

The band I4 to be Worn by the bull, may be omitted. With the voltage developed in the induction coil, the current through the conducting 5 I claim as my'inventiom- 10V 1. A game apparatus for simulating bull iighting, comprising a ferrule shod lance, an insulated conductor connected to said ferrule and extending therefrom along said lance and beyond the grip end of said lance, a plurality of low current 15 low voltage batteries, an induction coil suitably mounted in association with said batteries, an auxiliary conductor adapted to connect the secondary of said induction coil to the conductor projecting beyond the grip end of said lance, 20 ground conductors for the second-ary of said induction coil adapted to be grounded through the hoofs of a horse upon which the rider is mounted, and insulation metal shod boots for attachment to the horses hoofs, said ground conductors be- 25 ing severally connected to the metal of said metal shod boots.

2. A game apparatus for simulating bull fighting, comprising avferrule shod lance, an insulated conductor connected to said ferrule and 30 extending therefrom along said lance and beyond the grip end thereof, a belt to be worn by a rider,

a plurality of low current low Voltage batteries, an induction coil suitably mounted and connected to said belt in association with said bat- 35 teries, an auxiliary conductor adapted to connect the secondary of said induction coil to the conductor projecting beyond the grip end of said lance, and ground conductors for the secondary of said induction coil adapted to be grounded 40 throughthe hoofs of a horse upon which the rider is mounted.

3. A game apparatus for simulating bull fighting, comprising a ferrule shod lance, an insulated conductor connected to said ferrule and extend- 45 ing therefrom along said lance and beyond the grip end thereof, a belt to be worn by a rider, a plurality of low current low voltage batteries, an induction coil, means for securing said batteries and sai-d induction coil to said belt, an auxiliary 50 conductor adapted to connect the secondary of said induction coil to the conductor projecting beyond the grip end of said lance, ground conductors for the secondary of said induction coil adapted to be grounded through the hoofs of a 55 horse upon which the rider is mounted, and insulation met-al shod boots for attachment to the horses hoofs, said ground conductors being severally connected to the metal of said metal shod boots.

MANUEL JOSEPH DIAZ. 

